The Hanalei Dolphin Restaurant is located on the North Shore just off the only highway that takes you up to the North Shore.

It is best to go during lunch as it is more affordable. Friends say the "Bull Burger (a filet mignon on a bun)" is to die for - but it's only served at lunch.

We got there for dinner. Our appetizers were the stuffed mushrooms (boring and salty) and the calamari (not rings but strips from calamari steak breaded and fried). We tried their famous seafood chowder and well, it was like most other chowders I've had - creamy, potatoes, seafood, etc.

Complimentary dark and light breads are offered while you wait for your food. Dinner included their house salad, spun at your table with homemade blue cheese or thousand island dressing (no ranch here). Salad includes greens, bean sprouts, tomatoes, and Chinese cabbage. Dressings were tasty but super thick. Oil and vinegar was available at the table.

I had the ceviche and a side order of fries as I was pretty full from the apps and soup. The ceviche was not a typical ceviche as it had some green olives in it. Chunks of fish were soft and creamy but overall the ceviche was not to my liking.

This restaurant was raved about, but I found the food to be diner-like and overpriced. Service was mediocre at best (our server brought out our appetizers in the patio area and forgot to bring utensils. When she did bring the utensils she placed them on the dirty concrete table instead of on a plate or napkin.) With other seafood restaurants on the island, I'd pass this one up in favor of others.

www.hanaleidolphincenter.com/menus.html